Preventing and addressing physician suicide in your practice

September is Suicide Prevention Month and Sept. 17 is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. Take steps to identify and support at-risk physicians with these resources from STEPS Forward® by the American Medical Association:

• Preventing Physician Suicide Toolkit
• After a Physician Suicide Toolkit
• Wellness-Centered Leadership Playbook

CMS's Doc2Doc Wellbeing Consulting is here to support physicians in your practice

The Colorado Medical Society's Doc2Doc Wellbeing Consulting in collaboration with the Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP), provides any physician, medical student or provider licensed by the medical board access to three free one-hour wellbeing consultations with a psychiatrist (physician). There is no evaluation or documentation; this is pre-clinical support for any concern -- burnout, stress or situational issue. Call 720-810-9131 to reach a masters-level licensed clinician who can schedule the first wellbeing consult.

If the need is greater than Doc2Doc's intended scope, CPHP's clinical services can assist, confidentially. CPHP also accepts referrals from anyone who may be concerned about a physician, resident, medical student, physician assistant or physician assistant student.

Request for applications to build capacity for culturally responsive care

On behalf of the Office of Health Equity and the Health Equity Commission at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, the Trailhead Institute has released a request for applications (RFA) for nonprofit organizations, health care providers, and health care associations to build the capacity of health care providers to deliver culturally responsive and affirming care. Funding is available through House Bill (HB) 22-1267; this grant program seeks to have an impact at a statewide level with a focus on improving health outcomes of underserved and marginalized communities. The deadline to submit applications is Oct. 8.

Informational webinars: 

• Sept. 15, 2023, 12-1 p.m.
• Sept. 18, 2023, 5-6 p.m.

CMS needs your prior authorization stories

The Colorado Medical Society knows that prior authorization is a burden for you and your practice team, and it’s clear that patients’ health is harmed. Addressing this issue is a CMS priority for the coming Colorado legislative session. 

• Do you have a story to share about when a patient was harmed by prior authorization? Share it here
• We are stronger together! Join our coalition by emailing jennifer_armstrong@cms.org

It's dues season; thank you in advance for renewing your membership

Dues invoices for practices who have opted into group billing were mailed the first week of September. All invoices are due Dec. 31, 2023 for the membership period ending Dec. 31, 2024. Pay early to ensure your practice's physicians have no disruption in benefits through the end of 2024 -- especially if your physicians are COPIC insured and benefit from the significant discount in medical liability insurance! If you are the billing contact and did not receive your group bill, please call 720-859-1001 or email membership@cms.org.

To pay by check, make the check payable to "Colorado Medical Society" and include a remittance advice listing member(s) being paid. Mail to the Colorado Medical Society, PO Box 17550, Denver, CO 80217. Pay individual physicians' dues (not group bills) online via credit card or ACH directly through the renewal page. If you have questions about payment, call Mihal Sabar, CMS Director of Accounting, at 720-739-8358.